Laundry:

On the way to dinner:

Robert and the driver appeared to converse more than usual. Robert’s cell rang. He talked at length. The call completed, he started another. Both he and the driver seemed tied to their phones for an unusual amount of time. Of course, I didn’t understand a word, yet it occurred to me something might be up. I can pull a rabbit out of any hat, real or imaginary.

Our bus pulled over to the curb and Robert announced he had to leave. The driver would take us to the restaurant, he said. He gave no explanation, but it wasn’t hard to see he was upset. Sue and I looked at each other. We couldn’t see any of the other’s reactions in front or behind us.

Heavy traffic surrounded us. After Robert hopped off, we drove on for a short distance still in the inside lane. Vehicles crawled bumper to bumper. Another bus slowed next to ours. Sue and I sat on the left of the aisle watching through the window. I squeezed my eyes shut as a bicyclist, with no room to spare, whizzed by between our two buses. I almost had a heart attack.

The other bus moved on. We remained stock-still in the curb lane. Traffic rolled past. I thought the young fellow on the bike might have caused an accident. Traffic shifted moving past, yet our bus waited immobile. Why? By now, the whole group craned necks and raised eyebrows around the seats at each other. We noticed together, a car parked in front of the bus. Another five minutes or so dragged past. What could be happening? A man in a construction vest walked up to the car’s driver window brandishing his arms. I had no idea the car had an occupant. No translation was required. Move now he indicated. Nothing changed. A 20-something Chinese guy in black pants and a white shirt appeared at the side of the bus. The door flew open and he jumped in. The door slammed shut and I don’t recall any words exchanged with the driver. The parked car inched forward. Our bus did as well.

In minutes, we turned into a driveway and a man, who might have been Security or Police, stepped in front of the bus. He waved his arms and shouted through the windshield and looked as if he wanted to push the bus back. What was going on? Words passed between the man outside and our driver or between the driver and the new passenger who hadn’t taken a seat. Too much going on to follow. The uniform vanished. The bus door opened again and the young man jumped out signaling for us to follow. I felt like a lamb on the way to heaven’s gate or maybe hell’s? All were silent, heads bowed as we passed through an alley and a maze of cars and another lot into a restaurant. I flashed my Travel Tour ID towards an approaching waitress. She led us to Table 6 which displayed our tour group name.

One of our group noticed the young man worked as a waiter there. The picture became clear. This had been an orchestrated event. Before Robert rushed off, either he or the driver had pre-arranged for our escort. The driver had stalled until the black pants and white shirt found us. The driver couldn’t leave the bus to walk us to our destination since there wasn’t room to bring the bus closer. I don’t even know if he spoke English. What teamwork!

By the time dinner finished, and we fidgeted, wondering about our return to the hotel, Robert showed up as if nothing had happened. He looked much better than when he’d dashed off. His voice, I noticed, was still a little odd. At least to me, his reason for the sudden disappearance was suspect.

“I had to see about my next tour,” he said to our obvious curiosity.

Dinner:

Soup with fresh chopped tomatoes

Rice

Shrimp with egg and green peppers

Corn with lima beans and carrots

Sweet and sour chicken balls

French fries (surprise)

Chicken with fungus and green peppers

Green leaf vegetable like spinach but not

Chopped mushrooms and green peppers

Eggplant, light spice

We returned to the hotel around 8:30 p.m. I picked up my laptop from the room and returned to the lobby for free WiFi access. I had trouble and asked the guy at reception for help. He looked at the list available and pointed to one, even though the words weren’t in Chinese. “Maybe, this one?” His choice didn’t work. He shrugged. I went off on my own, but soon became frustrated and worn out. I wanted nothing more than my bed. I gave up on e-mail.

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I'm getting a little LONG in the tooth and have things to say about---ouch---AGEing. I believe it's certainly a state of mind but sometimes it's nice to hear that you're NORMAL. I enjoy reading by the truckload. I'm a grandma but I don't feel OLD although I'm not so young anymore. My plan is to stick it out as long as I can on this lovely planet and only will leave it kicking and screaming!

No I didn’t tire of the food. I’ll sit and eat whatever is put in front of me. I love cooking but if someone else sets the table and feeds me, heck that’s a bright spot in my day–especially on holidays. 😀 😀 A few times, the friend I traveled with, ate a protein bar instead because nothing appealed to her. I had no problem with anything and that’s not saying I’ll eat anything. 🙂

Reblogged this on Smorgasbord – Variety is the spice of life and commented:
Another of my Saturday morning visits is to Tess Karlinski’s tour of China.. and this week there is a little bit of intrigue, dodgy Internet (happens to us all) and some interesting food choices…Chicken with fungus and green peppers… I suppose even hens get athlete’s foot!! sorry #recommended

The fungus is weird mushrooms but they tasted fine. We didn’t get chicken’s feet like a friend of mine who traveled to China with her husband years before I had. They had a few strange things they wouldn’t touch with a 20-foot pole. Her words, not mine. 😀

If these posts do even a small part of bringing back memories, I’m pleased. I’m amazed this ‘second reading’ is enjoyable even to me. When you take a trip, you come home tired and within a week the trip is gone, erased, except for your pictures a few details now and again. Maybe. I’m charged doing this one again and have gained many new readers. The first time I probably was in awe. This time I am more conscious and enjoying it yet again–sure in awe–but also with more presence. ❤ ❤

I can’t believe how neat, clean, and well maintained this was. I suppose that’s all with ‘tourists’ in mind–and there are thousands and all impressed. The museum, the entrance, the busloads, everything is timed I think to prevent crowding at some of the important stops. At this one, we felt we were the only busload. Then another one arrived as we were leaving. How do they do that with such precision?

Those tower blocks look so much more ugly and desperate because most of them have no windows and have been empty for who knows how long–empty ghosts begging for company. I cannot believe how many thousand of empty apartments we saw with no life and empty eyes.

I’m not a fussy eater nor am I an adventurous one. I wouldn’t have starved with the variety of food and I tried a bit of every plate. There was no weird food like chicken feet if you know what I mean. 🙂

Robert’s disappearance was never explained. It sounded personal because of the nervous catch in his voice. Yes it was all cloak and dagger stuff but I find it a bit tittilating now as opposed to back then. 🙂

Yes, I was anxious. I could hardly speak. We were all somewhat paralyzed not having a clue what was happening before our eyes–was it danger or what and what was the danger? None of us spoke the language, a huge disadvantage in our brains. We had no rights in a country, not our own and had no idea what was happening. Scary enough for ME.

I do feel it must have been personal by his body language, the sound of his quivering voice and the deer-in-the-headlights look on his face.
My laptop is a small one. I thought I’d find time to type notes from the day during the evening. Ha. All I did was email when we had WiFi.

One of the things I always enjoyed about these China travelogues of yours Tess, was the amazing points of interest. Re the laundry, it really makes one wonder about the bedding and underwear! 😀 Mega hugs

Very clever to link the food to your tour Tess, shared food is one of the ancient fundamentals of hospitality, it is also how we are judged as hosts and I think this is probably especially true for an ancient culture like China- which from reading your words is so bracingly modern without having sacrificed the old courtesies. I envy you. Going back to read the earlier posts

Did you get your picture taken on the throne in the Ming Tombs, Tess? I have to say, those tall buildings appear a little scary ~ a bit wobbly or lopsided. They look as if they might collapse at any moment. I wonder if they’re retrofitted for earthquakes … 🙂 ❤

I would say “harrowing” but you were going too slow! 🙂 I crack up every time you list the food and “of course, a free small glass of beer, pop, or water.” If that second dinner photo is any indication, that is a teensy glass of water.

It had all the makings of a spy movie for a while, Tess. How strange to peer up into somebody’s life (I refer to Robert) but not get the whole picture or have any way of knowing what’s going on… I agree that the food looks good. Thanks for sharing! 🙂

Spy movie for sure, Olga. These people aren’t like westerners who tell strangers every little thing. They’re private people and Roberts said not a thing to give us a clue even when eight pairs of eyes drilled him upon his return. No complaints about the food. I wouldn’t starve there. 🙂 ❤

I wondered because of their tones: excited, rapid-fire, loud. The driver always sounded like he was picking a fight with someone on the phone–not Robert. Yes, the food was good. I ate whether I was hungry or not and I always enjoyed my tiny sip of beer. Ha ha.
Nice to see you. Thanks for the visit. ❤

I lived in Beijing for half a year while doing my study abroad. Guess who never made it to the Ming Tombs? And very nearly didn’t make it to the Forbidden City or any other local historical places? This gal.